James B. Mayer, retired president of Producers Cotton Oil Company, Fresno community leader and nationally known in the U.S. cotton industry, passed away in Fresno.
He was born in Los Angeles in 1914, to James and Mary Mayer, and attended schools in Corcoran and Chula Vista before graduating from Fresno State College in 1937, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and served as Student Body President, and treasurer of the National Student Presidents Association.
On graduation, he became Deputy Mayor for the City of Fresno for four years.
Following service as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, he joined Producers, later heading the company's Arizona, Imperial Valley and Mexico operations before being elected President and Chief Executive Officer.
In his tenure at Producers, then the second largest cotton producing and processing company in America, he served as a Director of the National Cotton Council, chaired the organization's California-Arizona unit, was a Director of Cotton Council International and of the Cotton Foundation, and President of the National Cottonseed Products Association.
Following his retirement from Producers in 1971, he served as Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Valley National Bank in Phoenix, AZ, until full retirement in 1976. Valley National at the time was the largest bank in the Rocky Mountain States and 26th largest in the nation.
His Fresno community service involved some two dozen organizations. He was President of both the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, and was a Director of the California State Chamber. He was a Board member and Board President of the Fresno Community Hospital, and held leadership roles on the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Fresno Economic Council, and many more.
He also was a current member of the Rotary Club of Fresno. He maintained close ties to California State University, Fresno, serving on advisory boards, the Alumni Association, and was a member of the founding groups of both the Bulldog Foundation and the Ag One Foundation.
Jim was the recipient of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce's Leon Peters Award, Fresno State University Foundation Award, and Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
Those of you who were fortunate to meet Jim, even for a brief moment, knew what a special gift he had with people.
In addition to his extensive and tireless service to his community, he was devoted, first and foremost, to his family. He nurtured the enduring strength of family love and imparted the seeds of wisdom that manifests true success in life that comes from within one's self.
He was married in 1945, to Wilda Lightsey, who passed away in 1965. The couple had four children.
In 1966, he married Betty Jane Izenour McLaughlin, who had two children.
In addition to Betty, he is survived by Bradley Mayer of Santa Barbara, Wanda Kandel of Novato, Donald Mayer of South Lake Tahoe, Barbara Christie of San Jose, Nancy McLaughlin of Westlake Village, and Janet McLaughlin of Burnt Store Marina, FL.
His grandchildren include Sam Kandel, Caitlyn and Kelsey Christie, Sarah Mayer, and Jared Smith.
A private memorial service will be held for family members.
The family requests that remembrances be made to the Fresno State University Bulldog Foundation; or the James B. Mayer Grant, California State University, Fresno, Scholarship Office, 5150 N. Maple Avenue, JA64, Fresno, CA 93740.
NEPTUNE SOCIETYOF CENTRAL CA CREMATION - MEMORIAL CHAPEL(559)222-7764 (800)225-1604
----------------------------
Another obit reads:
Longtime cotton executive James B. Mayer dies at 92
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Thursday, March 30, 2006, 5:28 AM)
A private memorial service for family will be held for James B. Mayer, who lost his mother as a toddler and his father at 11 but matured to become a nationally influential cotton executive and president of Producers Cotton Oil Co. in Fresno.
Mr. Mayer died Monday in Fresno. He was 92.
He was born in Los Angeles and graduated in 1937 from Fresno State College, serving that year as student body president. While still a senior, Mr. Mayer was appointed deputy city commissioner for public safety by Fresno Mayor Frank A. Homan.
Mr. Mayer's progress was swift. He was elected president of the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce. His work was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Pacific with the U.S. Army Air Corps, rising to the rank of major.
Mr. Mayer later returned to Fresno and was assistant to Harry S. Baker, president of Producers. He was named manager of operations in Arizona, the Imperial Valley and Mexico, and became president and chief executive in 1967, retiring in 1971.
Glen Stevens worked with Mr. Mayer as assistant to corporate officers at Producers when Mr. Mayer became president.
Stevens says: "He was a very eloquent, emotional man. Quite bright. He was one of the few I knew who could stand up and speak at a moment's notice."
Stevens sums up Mr. Mayer in three words: "Inspiration. A leader."
Stevens calls Mr. Mayer "a kind and gentle guy and very good businessman. He had a great memory for numbers and names. He was tolerant and patient — to a degree."
Mr. Mayer's prominence extended nationally, with roles as director of the National Cotton Council, the Cotton Council International and the Cotton Foundation, as well as his presidency of the National Cottonseed Products Association.
After retiring from Producers, Mr. Mayer served as board chairman and chief executive of Valley National Bank in Phoenix until retiring in 1976.
"He was very professional and very stern in his approach to business," says Earl Williams, president and chief executive of the California Cotton Growers and Ginners Association and of the California Cotton Growers Association. "One of my most profound memories is his ability to give a speech in a prepared manner or ad-libbed. When he stood up and talked, people listened."
Sid Cox, a retired Producers vice president, says Mr. Mayer "knew every end of the business, financing, ginning and sales, in the cottonseed industry."
Mr. Mayer knew presidents, Cox says. Mr. Mayer attended a meeting of agricultural leaders with Ronald Reagan during his campaign for a second term as California governor. When Mr. Mayer asked about rebellious students at the University of California at Berkeley, Reagan promised "a bloodbath" if that was what students wanted.
A son, Donald Mayer of South Lake Tahoe, remembers his father for his personal interactions, and says, "All those who made contact with him respected and admired him. ... He was an amazing individual in business, but what set him apart was his people skills. He treated everybody well, whether it was the pizza delivery guy, a secretary or a president. His sense of humor was way up there, but he was no-nonsense when it came to bringing us up."
He was born in Los Angeles in 1914, to James and Mary Mayer, and attended schools in Corcoran and Chula Vista before graduating from Fresno State College in 1937, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and served as Student Body President, and treasurer of the National Student Presidents Association.
On graduation, he became Deputy Mayor for the City of Fresno for four years.
Following service as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, he joined Producers, later heading the company's Arizona, Imperial Valley and Mexico operations before being elected President and Chief Executive Officer.
In his tenure at Producers, then the second largest cotton producing and processing company in America, he served as a Director of the National Cotton Council, chaired the organization's California-Arizona unit, was a Director of Cotton Council International and of the Cotton Foundation, and President of the National Cottonseed Products Association.
Following his retirement from Producers in 1971, he served as Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Valley National Bank in Phoenix, AZ, until full retirement in 1976. Valley National at the time was the largest bank in the Rocky Mountain States and 26th largest in the nation.
His Fresno community service involved some two dozen organizations. He was President of both the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, and was a Director of the California State Chamber. He was a Board member and Board President of the Fresno Community Hospital, and held leadership roles on the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Fresno Economic Council, and many more.
He also was a current member of the Rotary Club of Fresno. He maintained close ties to California State University, Fresno, serving on advisory boards, the Alumni Association, and was a member of the founding groups of both the Bulldog Foundation and the Ag One Foundation.
Jim was the recipient of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce's Leon Peters Award, Fresno State University Foundation Award, and Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
Those of you who were fortunate to meet Jim, even for a brief moment, knew what a special gift he had with people.
In addition to his extensive and tireless service to his community, he was devoted, first and foremost, to his family. He nurtured the enduring strength of family love and imparted the seeds of wisdom that manifests true success in life that comes from within one's self.
He was married in 1945, to Wilda Lightsey, who passed away in 1965. The couple had four children.
In 1966, he married Betty Jane Izenour McLaughlin, who had two children.
In addition to Betty, he is survived by Bradley Mayer of Santa Barbara, Wanda Kandel of Novato, Donald Mayer of South Lake Tahoe, Barbara Christie of San Jose, Nancy McLaughlin of Westlake Village, and Janet McLaughlin of Burnt Store Marina, FL.
His grandchildren include Sam Kandel, Caitlyn and Kelsey Christie, Sarah Mayer, and Jared Smith.
A private memorial service will be held for family members.
The family requests that remembrances be made to the Fresno State University Bulldog Foundation; or the James B. Mayer Grant, California State University, Fresno, Scholarship Office, 5150 N. Maple Avenue, JA64, Fresno, CA 93740.
NEPTUNE SOCIETYOF CENTRAL CA CREMATION - MEMORIAL CHAPEL(559)222-7764 (800)225-1604
----------------------------
Another obit reads:
Longtime cotton executive James B. Mayer dies at 92
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Thursday, March 30, 2006, 5:28 AM)
A private memorial service for family will be held for James B. Mayer, who lost his mother as a toddler and his father at 11 but matured to become a nationally influential cotton executive and president of Producers Cotton Oil Co. in Fresno.
Mr. Mayer died Monday in Fresno. He was 92.
He was born in Los Angeles and graduated in 1937 from Fresno State College, serving that year as student body president. While still a senior, Mr. Mayer was appointed deputy city commissioner for public safety by Fresno Mayor Frank A. Homan.
Mr. Mayer's progress was swift. He was elected president of the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce. His work was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Pacific with the U.S. Army Air Corps, rising to the rank of major.
Mr. Mayer later returned to Fresno and was assistant to Harry S. Baker, president of Producers. He was named manager of operations in Arizona, the Imperial Valley and Mexico, and became president and chief executive in 1967, retiring in 1971.
Glen Stevens worked with Mr. Mayer as assistant to corporate officers at Producers when Mr. Mayer became president.
Stevens says: "He was a very eloquent, emotional man. Quite bright. He was one of the few I knew who could stand up and speak at a moment's notice."
Stevens sums up Mr. Mayer in three words: "Inspiration. A leader."
Stevens calls Mr. Mayer "a kind and gentle guy and very good businessman. He had a great memory for numbers and names. He was tolerant and patient — to a degree."
Mr. Mayer's prominence extended nationally, with roles as director of the National Cotton Council, the Cotton Council International and the Cotton Foundation, as well as his presidency of the National Cottonseed Products Association.
After retiring from Producers, Mr. Mayer served as board chairman and chief executive of Valley National Bank in Phoenix until retiring in 1976.
"He was very professional and very stern in his approach to business," says Earl Williams, president and chief executive of the California Cotton Growers and Ginners Association and of the California Cotton Growers Association. "One of my most profound memories is his ability to give a speech in a prepared manner or ad-libbed. When he stood up and talked, people listened."
Sid Cox, a retired Producers vice president, says Mr. Mayer "knew every end of the business, financing, ginning and sales, in the cottonseed industry."
Mr. Mayer knew presidents, Cox says. Mr. Mayer attended a meeting of agricultural leaders with Ronald Reagan during his campaign for a second term as California governor. When Mr. Mayer asked about rebellious students at the University of California at Berkeley, Reagan promised "a bloodbath" if that was what students wanted.
A son, Donald Mayer of South Lake Tahoe, remembers his father for his personal interactions, and says, "All those who made contact with him respected and admired him. ... He was an amazing individual in business, but what set him apart was his people skills. He treated everybody well, whether it was the pizza delivery guy, a secretary or a president. His sense of humor was way up there, but he was no-nonsense when it came to bringing us up."
James B. Mayer, retired president of Producers Cotton Oil Company, Fresno community leader and nationally known in the U.S. cotton industry, passed away in Fresno.
He was born in Los Angeles in 1914, to James and Mary Mayer, and attended schools in Corcoran and Chula Vista before graduating from Fresno State College in 1937, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and served as Student Body President, and treasurer of the National Student Presidents Association.
On graduation, he became Deputy Mayor for the City of Fresno for four years.
Following service as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, he joined Producers, later heading the company's Arizona, Imperial Valley and Mexico operations before being elected President and Chief Executive Officer.
In his tenure at Producers, then the second largest cotton producing and processing company in America, he served as a Director of the National Cotton Council, chaired the organization's California-Arizona unit, was a Director of Cotton Council International and of the Cotton Foundation, and President of the National Cottonseed Products Association.
Following his retirement from Producers in 1971, he served as Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Valley National Bank in Phoenix, AZ, until full retirement in 1976. Valley National at the time was the largest bank in the Rocky Mountain States and 26th largest in the nation.
His Fresno community service involved some two dozen organizations. He was President of both the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, and was a Director of the California State Chamber. He was a Board member and Board President of the Fresno Community Hospital, and held leadership roles on the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Fresno Economic Council, and many more.
He also was a current member of the Rotary Club of Fresno. He maintained close ties to California State University, Fresno, serving on advisory boards, the Alumni Association, and was a member of the founding groups of both the Bulldog Foundation and the Ag One Foundation.
Jim was the recipient of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce's Leon Peters Award, Fresno State University Foundation Award, and Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
Those of you who were fortunate to meet Jim, even for a brief moment, knew what a special gift he had with people.
In addition to his extensive and tireless service to his community, he was devoted, first and foremost, to his family. He nurtured the enduring strength of family love and imparted the seeds of wisdom that manifests true success in life that comes from within one's self.
He was married in 1945, to Wilda Lightsey, who passed away in 1965. The couple had four children.
In 1966, he married Betty Jane Izenour McLaughlin, who had two children.
In addition to Betty, he is survived by Bradley Mayer of Santa Barbara, Wanda Kandel of Novato, Donald Mayer of South Lake Tahoe, Barbara Christie of San Jose, Nancy McLaughlin of Westlake Village, and Janet McLaughlin of Burnt Store Marina, FL.
His grandchildren include Sam Kandel, Caitlyn and Kelsey Christie, Sarah Mayer, and Jared Smith.
A private memorial service will be held for family members.
The family requests that remembrances be made to the Fresno State University Bulldog Foundation; or the James B. Mayer Grant, California State University, Fresno, Scholarship Office, 5150 N. Maple Avenue, JA64, Fresno, CA 93740.
NEPTUNE SOCIETYOF CENTRAL CA CREMATION - MEMORIAL CHAPEL(559)222-7764 (800)225-1604
----------------------------
Another obit reads:
Longtime cotton executive James B. Mayer dies at 92
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Thursday, March 30, 2006, 5:28 AM)
A private memorial service for family will be held for James B. Mayer, who lost his mother as a toddler and his father at 11 but matured to become a nationally influential cotton executive and president of Producers Cotton Oil Co. in Fresno.
Mr. Mayer died Monday in Fresno. He was 92.
He was born in Los Angeles and graduated in 1937 from Fresno State College, serving that year as student body president. While still a senior, Mr. Mayer was appointed deputy city commissioner for public safety by Fresno Mayor Frank A. Homan.
Mr. Mayer's progress was swift. He was elected president of the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce. His work was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Pacific with the U.S. Army Air Corps, rising to the rank of major.
Mr. Mayer later returned to Fresno and was assistant to Harry S. Baker, president of Producers. He was named manager of operations in Arizona, the Imperial Valley and Mexico, and became president and chief executive in 1967, retiring in 1971.
Glen Stevens worked with Mr. Mayer as assistant to corporate officers at Producers when Mr. Mayer became president.
Stevens says: "He was a very eloquent, emotional man. Quite bright. He was one of the few I knew who could stand up and speak at a moment's notice."
Stevens sums up Mr. Mayer in three words: "Inspiration. A leader."
Stevens calls Mr. Mayer "a kind and gentle guy and very good businessman. He had a great memory for numbers and names. He was tolerant and patient — to a degree."
Mr. Mayer's prominence extended nationally, with roles as director of the National Cotton Council, the Cotton Council International and the Cotton Foundation, as well as his presidency of the National Cottonseed Products Association.
After retiring from Producers, Mr. Mayer served as board chairman and chief executive of Valley National Bank in Phoenix until retiring in 1976.
"He was very professional and very stern in his approach to business," says Earl Williams, president and chief executive of the California Cotton Growers and Ginners Association and of the California Cotton Growers Association. "One of my most profound memories is his ability to give a speech in a prepared manner or ad-libbed. When he stood up and talked, people listened."
Sid Cox, a retired Producers vice president, says Mr. Mayer "knew every end of the business, financing, ginning and sales, in the cottonseed industry."
Mr. Mayer knew presidents, Cox says. Mr. Mayer attended a meeting of agricultural leaders with Ronald Reagan during his campaign for a second term as California governor. When Mr. Mayer asked about rebellious students at the University of California at Berkeley, Reagan promised "a bloodbath" if that was what students wanted.
A son, Donald Mayer of South Lake Tahoe, remembers his father for his personal interactions, and says, "All those who made contact with him respected and admired him. ... He was an amazing individual in business, but what set him apart was his people skills. He treated everybody well, whether it was the pizza delivery guy, a secretary or a president. His sense of humor was way up there, but he was no-nonsense when it came to bringing us up."
He was born in Los Angeles in 1914, to James and Mary Mayer, and attended schools in Corcoran and Chula Vista before graduating from Fresno State College in 1937, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and served as Student Body President, and treasurer of the National Student Presidents Association.
On graduation, he became Deputy Mayor for the City of Fresno for four years.
Following service as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, he joined Producers, later heading the company's Arizona, Imperial Valley and Mexico operations before being elected President and Chief Executive Officer.
In his tenure at Producers, then the second largest cotton producing and processing company in America, he served as a Director of the National Cotton Council, chaired the organization's California-Arizona unit, was a Director of Cotton Council International and of the Cotton Foundation, and President of the National Cottonseed Products Association.
Following his retirement from Producers in 1971, he served as Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Valley National Bank in Phoenix, AZ, until full retirement in 1976. Valley National at the time was the largest bank in the Rocky Mountain States and 26th largest in the nation.
His Fresno community service involved some two dozen organizations. He was President of both the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, and was a Director of the California State Chamber. He was a Board member and Board President of the Fresno Community Hospital, and held leadership roles on the Sequoia Council, Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Fresno Economic Council, and many more.
He also was a current member of the Rotary Club of Fresno. He maintained close ties to California State University, Fresno, serving on advisory boards, the Alumni Association, and was a member of the founding groups of both the Bulldog Foundation and the Ag One Foundation.
Jim was the recipient of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce's Leon Peters Award, Fresno State University Foundation Award, and Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
Those of you who were fortunate to meet Jim, even for a brief moment, knew what a special gift he had with people.
In addition to his extensive and tireless service to his community, he was devoted, first and foremost, to his family. He nurtured the enduring strength of family love and imparted the seeds of wisdom that manifests true success in life that comes from within one's self.
He was married in 1945, to Wilda Lightsey, who passed away in 1965. The couple had four children.
In 1966, he married Betty Jane Izenour McLaughlin, who had two children.
In addition to Betty, he is survived by Bradley Mayer of Santa Barbara, Wanda Kandel of Novato, Donald Mayer of South Lake Tahoe, Barbara Christie of San Jose, Nancy McLaughlin of Westlake Village, and Janet McLaughlin of Burnt Store Marina, FL.
His grandchildren include Sam Kandel, Caitlyn and Kelsey Christie, Sarah Mayer, and Jared Smith.
A private memorial service will be held for family members.
The family requests that remembrances be made to the Fresno State University Bulldog Foundation; or the James B. Mayer Grant, California State University, Fresno, Scholarship Office, 5150 N. Maple Avenue, JA64, Fresno, CA 93740.
NEPTUNE SOCIETYOF CENTRAL CA CREMATION - MEMORIAL CHAPEL(559)222-7764 (800)225-1604
----------------------------
Another obit reads:
Longtime cotton executive James B. Mayer dies at 92
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Thursday, March 30, 2006, 5:28 AM)
A private memorial service for family will be held for James B. Mayer, who lost his mother as a toddler and his father at 11 but matured to become a nationally influential cotton executive and president of Producers Cotton Oil Co. in Fresno.
Mr. Mayer died Monday in Fresno. He was 92.
He was born in Los Angeles and graduated in 1937 from Fresno State College, serving that year as student body president. While still a senior, Mr. Mayer was appointed deputy city commissioner for public safety by Fresno Mayor Frank A. Homan.
Mr. Mayer's progress was swift. He was elected president of the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce. His work was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Pacific with the U.S. Army Air Corps, rising to the rank of major.
Mr. Mayer later returned to Fresno and was assistant to Harry S. Baker, president of Producers. He was named manager of operations in Arizona, the Imperial Valley and Mexico, and became president and chief executive in 1967, retiring in 1971.
Glen Stevens worked with Mr. Mayer as assistant to corporate officers at Producers when Mr. Mayer became president.
Stevens says: "He was a very eloquent, emotional man. Quite bright. He was one of the few I knew who could stand up and speak at a moment's notice."
Stevens sums up Mr. Mayer in three words: "Inspiration. A leader."
Stevens calls Mr. Mayer "a kind and gentle guy and very good businessman. He had a great memory for numbers and names. He was tolerant and patient — to a degree."
Mr. Mayer's prominence extended nationally, with roles as director of the National Cotton Council, the Cotton Council International and the Cotton Foundation, as well as his presidency of the National Cottonseed Products Association.
After retiring from Producers, Mr. Mayer served as board chairman and chief executive of Valley National Bank in Phoenix until retiring in 1976.
"He was very professional and very stern in his approach to business," says Earl Williams, president and chief executive of the California Cotton Growers and Ginners Association and of the California Cotton Growers Association. "One of my most profound memories is his ability to give a speech in a prepared manner or ad-libbed. When he stood up and talked, people listened."
Sid Cox, a retired Producers vice president, says Mr. Mayer "knew every end of the business, financing, ginning and sales, in the cottonseed industry."
Mr. Mayer knew presidents, Cox says. Mr. Mayer attended a meeting of agricultural leaders with Ronald Reagan during his campaign for a second term as California governor. When Mr. Mayer asked about rebellious students at the University of California at Berkeley, Reagan promised "a bloodbath" if that was what students wanted.
A son, Donald Mayer of South Lake Tahoe, remembers his father for his personal interactions, and says, "All those who made contact with him respected and admired him. ... He was an amazing individual in business, but what set him apart was his people skills. He treated everybody well, whether it was the pizza delivery guy, a secretary or a president. His sense of humor was way up there, but he was no-nonsense when it came to bringing us up."
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